Brake Output Pin on 7-Way has Constant Power After Brake Controller Install

Question

Question:

I am installing this new brake controller on a 2011 Chevy Silverado. The truck has all of the wiring harness installed at factory, so I made the necessary splices under the dash and installed the aftermarket 7 prong plug in the rear bumper plugs into proprietary plug installed in factory. in checking voltage and confirming that everything operates correctly before wiring my trailer older piece of equipment with dry rotted wiring, replacing all cables to lights and brakes I noticed at the 7 way plug in the bumper that I can ohme through the back up lights and the ground, and I have 12 volts constant on the electric brakes tab. Is this normal? I am familiar with 4 flat wiring and electrical in general, but have not used trailer brakes or back up lights on a trailer before. I did unplug the controller at the dash and that eliminated the constant 12 volts, so I know it is not a short in the vehicle wiring, I just do not know if that power is supposed to be constant or only come on when I press the brakes?

asked by: Justin

0

Expert Reply:

There should not be a constant 12 volts at the brake output circuit on the vehicle's 7-way unless the manual override is set to the max output and applied. The brake output circuit is located at the 5 o'clock position on the 7-way which is usually a blue wire.

It sounds like you may have mixed up the wires while installing the Tekonsha BRAKE-EVN Trailer Brake Controller part # TK63VR on your 2011 Chevrolet Silverado. The wires you will need to connect to are already ran under the dash but you will need to use a circuit tester like part # PTW2993 to be sure you are making the correct connections. The black wire on the controller is for 12 volt power, the blue wire is for the brake output, the red wire is for the stop light switch and the white wire is for the ground.

Please check the brake controller wires and let me know what you come up with. I have attached our wiring help article for you as well.

expert reply by: Conner L

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Answer 1

The only pin that should be continuously showing 12V power on the 7-Way connector on your vehicle is the 12V power circuit which is normally the black wire but not always. In 7-way wiring the 12V auxiliary power feed is carried on the contact at…

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Answer 2

I would first recommend checking to see if the breakaway pin is still intact. If the pin has not been pulled, you will want to begin by checking the trailer connectors for dirt or corrosion on both the inside and outside. Once the breakaway pin and…

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Answer 3

I took a look at the online owner's manual for your 2017 Ram 3500. It looks like the fuse related to the 12V pin at the 7-Way should be located at the F30 position inside the power distribution center (in the engine compartment). This will be a…

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Answer 4

On some vehicles, the key has to be on for voltage to go back to the trailer connector. On others, it does not. An electric brake controller will always send back some minimal voltage to the trailer connector. This is how it senses if there is a…

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Answer 5

First you will want to ensure your 2015 Ram 1500 has the integrated brake controller set properly. Here are the steps to ensure your controller is set to the correct profile. When a trailer with electric/EOH brakes is plugged in, the trailer…

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Answer 6

Most likely you just need to clean the pins of your 7-ways and the error message will go away. It's very common for a bit of corrosion on the connectors to cause an intermittent trailer connection which is what is causing the error message you…

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Answer 7

It sounds like the brake controller is possibly going out and would need to be replaced. You can do some troubleshooting to make sure. I have attached a link to a helpful article that explains how to troubleshoot a brake controller you can check out.…

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Answer 8

There are a number of reasons why the brakes on your trailer may not be working. Lets start with the easiest things to check. First, check the vehicle and trailer connectors for corrosion. This can cause a short inside the connector and the brake…

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Answer 9

Even after they've been out for more than 10 years, we continually hear complaints from folks about the factory integrated brake controllers on their trucks. We never seem to hear "I love it, it works great!" From what I understand, the…

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Answer 10

If you 2017 Ram 3500 is equipped with in Integrated Trailer Brake Module (ITBM), then you should not have to use a Electric Over Hydraulic Actuator, like #HBA-CAM. The factory ITBM will allow you to connect to your Hydrastar Actuator through the…

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Answer 11

The only wires that could be hot all the time on a trailer connector is the 12-volt hot lead, which is usually a black wire, and, if applicable, the auxiliary power wire, which is normally yellow or purple. The blue wire is usually for electric…

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Answer 12

If your breakaway battery is dead, your brakes should operate while connected to your vehicle's 7-way trailer connector. If your brakes are not operating, then it sounds like you might have a short in the brake wiring of the trailer. Battery…

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